Extendable Baton With Locking Mechanism

ABSTRACT

An extendable baton includes first and second telescoping tube sections, the first tube section having two inner circumferential grooves near one end. A cam assembly is carried by the second tube section for selectively locking the first and second tube sections to each other. The cam assembly includes two radially movable cams each having two lands and a groove therebetween. The two cams are movable radially relative to each other between a locked position in which the lands on the two cams are engaged in the grooves in the tube section, and an unlocked position in which the lands on the two cams are displaced radially inward from the grooves on the tube to enable relative axial movement of the first and second tube sections.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.63/004,855, filed Apr. 3, 2020, titled Extendable Baton With LockingMechanism.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an extendable baton. In these batons, two ormore telescoping tube sections are provided, with a locking mechanismfor locking the baton in an extended condition for use. The lockingmechanism can be selectively unlocked, to collapse the tube sections andmake a shorter baton for transport.

One example of this type of baton is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,721,459.This baton has a tube section with an internal groove that can receivetwo identical radially movable locking members or cams. A spring betweenthe cams biases them radially outward. When the locking members arealigned axially with the groove, they expand outward into the groove,thereby locking the tube sections together. This locking engagement isreleased by pressing a rod end into openings in the centers of thelocking members, causing the members to be drawn radially inward, out ofthe groove. This allows the tube sections to telescope inward, to enablecollapsing of the extendable baton.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new and improved locking mechanism foran extendable baton. In one embodiment, the invention relates to anextendable baton including first and second telescoping tube sections.The first tube section has two inner circumferential grooves near oneend, spaced apart from each other by a first distance and having aninner circumferential rib between them. A cam assembly is carried by thesecond tube section for selectively locking the first and second tubesections to each other. The cam assembly includes two cams havingalignment holes located therein. The first cam has a radially outersurface with two arcuate lands and a groove therebetween. The second camhas a radially outer surface with two arcuate lands and a groovetherebetween. The lands on the second cam are spaced apart by the samedistance as the lands on the first cam, which is equal to the firstdistance between the tube section grooves. The first and second cams aremovable radially relative to each other between a locked position inwhich the lands on the two cams are engaged in the grooves in the tubesection, and the rib on the tube is in the groove on the cams, blockingrelative axial movement of the first and second tube sections, and anunlocked position in which the lands on the two cams are displacedradially inward from the grooves on the tube to enable relative axialmovement of the first and second tube sections.

In one embodiment, an portion of the second cam has an insert portionthat is received in an opening of the first cam thereby to interlock thefirst and second cams and block relative axial or tipping movement.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features of the invention will become apparent to one ofordinary skill in the art to which the invention pertains, from areading of the following description of an embodiment of the inventiontogether with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an axial sectional view of a baton that is a first embodimentof the invention, shown in a fully extended position;

FIG. 2 is an enlargement of a portion of FIG. 1 focusing on one of thecam assemblies;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view illustrating the cam assembly in alocked position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of the two cams in an expandedposition;

FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration showing the two cams in a retractedposition;

FIG. 6 is a sectional perspective view illustrating the cam assembly andtubes in an engaged and locked condition;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the view illustrating the camassembly in an unlocked condition without having moved the tubesrelative to each other;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the view illustrating the camassembly in an unlocked condition and showing the tubes moved relativeto each other; and

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating a second embodiment ofthe invention.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new and improved locking mechanism foran extendable baton. The invention is applicable to batons and lockingmechanisms of different constructions. As representative of theinvention, FIG. 1 illustrates a baton 10 that is a first embodiment ofthe invention.

The baton 10 has three telescoping tubes: an outer tube or handle 12with a handle cap 14; a middle tube 16; and an inner tube 18. The middletube 16 carries at its proximal end (nearer the handle 14) a first camassembly 20 (FIGS. 1 and 2) that is engageable with a pair of grooves 70on the distal end of the outer tube 12. Each one of the tubes 14-18 ispreferably made from one open right cylindrical piece of material suchas aluminum or plastic. End caps may be provided on the tubes 14-18, asshown.

The inner tube 18 carries at its proximal end (nearer the handle 14) asecond cam assembly 22 (FIG. 1) that is engageable with another pair ofgrooves 72 on the distal end of the middle tube 16. The second camassembly 22 is functionally identical to the first cam assembly 20. Alock release rod 24 is also provided, of a known type.

The cam assembly 20 (FIGS. 1-3) includes two parts, or cams, that arephysically different from each other but that are fitted together toform the cam assembly. The two cams are referred to herein as the outercam or first cam 30 and the inner cam or second cam 50. A portion of theinner cam 50 is received inside the outer cam 30 as described below.

The outer cam 30 has an overall rectangular box shape including sixwalls that surround and define a central chamber. Two of the six walls,each designated 32 and located opposite each other, have alignedcircular openings for 34 receiving the release rod 24. These two walls32 extend radially when assembled and face axially up and down thelength of the baton 10. Two other walls 36, which extend chordally inthe baton tubes when assembled and face radially outward, are solid,that is, with no openings provided.

Of the remaining two outer cam walls 38 and 40, one wall (the upper wall38 as viewed in FIG. 4) has an oval shaped opening 42. This opening 42is dimensioned to receive an insert portion 54 of the inner cam 50, asdescribed below.

The sixth and remaining wall 40 of the outer cam 30 (the lower wall asviewed in FIG. 4) is solid and is configured to engage with the grooves70 in the tubes. Specifically, this lower wall 40 has two camprojections or lands 42 on opposite axial ends of the wall, with a notch44 between the lands. The lands 42 are arcuate to match the innercircumference of the baton tubes.

The inner cam 50, as noted above, is different from the outer cam 30.The inner cam 50 has a cam portion 52 and an insert portion 54. The camportion 52 of the inner cam 50 is similar in configuration to the lowerwall 40 of the outer cam 30—two arcuate cam projections or lands 56 onopposite sides of a notch 58. The lands 56 of the inner cam 50 alignaxially with the lands 42 of the outer cam 30 when assembled, onopposite radial sides of the baton centerline.

The insert portion 54 of the inner cam 50 projects radially inward fromthe cam portion 52. The insert portion 54 has the same configuration as,and is shaped to fit closely inside of, the oval shaped opening 42 ofthe outer cam 30. The two cams 30 and 50 are thereby interlocked. Theinsert portion 54 has a circular opening 60 for receiving the unlock rod24. The insert portion 54 of the inner cam 50 is slid able within theopening 42 of the outer cam 30, to enable radial expansion andcontraction of the cam assembly 20 when it is assembled inside the baton10. When assembled, the lands 56 on the inner cam 50 are locateddiametrically opposite the lands 42 on the outer cam 30.

The cam assembly 20 preferably includes spring pockets 62 as shown inFIGS. 4 and 5 that receive compression springs 64 to bias apart the twocams 30 and 50. Alternatively, repelling magnets can be used if springweakening over time is an issue.

When the baton 10 is assembled, the first cam assembly 20 is carried inthe proximal end portion of the middle baton tube 16 and thus moves withthe middle tube. The outer tube 12 has two circular grooves 70 on itscylindrical inner side surface, that are the same distance apart fromeach other as the two pairs of lands 42 and 56 on the first cam assembly20. A rib 74 is located between the two grooves 70.

The dimensions of the parts are selected so that when the outer tube 12and the middle tube 16 are not locked (FIG. 8) , the lands 42 on thefirst cam assembly 20 are spaced apart axially (along the length of thebaton 10) from the grooves 70 on the outer tube 12. The radially outerside surfaces of the lands 42 and 56 on the cams 50 and 50,respectively, are biased radially outward against the innercircumferential surface of the outer tube 12, and the cams are held in aradially inward position, as shown in FIG. 8.

When the middle tube 16 and the outer tube 12 are positioned axiallyrelative to each other so that the first cam assembly 20 is alignedaxially with the grooves 70 in the outer tube 12, that is, when it islocated radially inward of the grooves 70, the cams 30 and 50 can moveradially outward into the grooves, under the influence of the springs64. The lands 42 on the first cam 30 and the lands 56 on the second cam50 engage in the grooves 70. This position of the parts is shown in FIG.6.

Specifically, the two individual lands 42 on the outer cam 30 areengaged in the two individual grooves 70 of the outer tube 12. On thecircumferentially opposite side of the baton 10, the two individuallands 56 of the inner cam 50 are engaged in the same two grooves 70 ofthe outer tube 12. This engagement provides a locking engagement betweenthe first cam assembly 20 and the outer tube 12. As a result, the middletube 16 is locked with the outer tube 12.

Extendable batons like the baton 10 are of a generally standard lengthand diameter. Thus, the baton 10 is of generally the same length anddiameter as the baton shown in the prior art U.S. Pat. No. 8,721,459referenced above. In contrast, each cam assembly 20, 22 of the baton 10is significantly longer (axially) than the single cams of the batonshown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,721,459. Because of this added length, the camstability is greatly increased. There is significantly more surfaceengagement, in a direction extending along the axis, between the camassembly and the tubes. This helps to stabilize the cams 30 and 50,minimizing cam roll, for example.

Further, the increased number of cam projections and grooves providesincreased locking surface area. There are two cam projections or lands42 and 56 on each cam 30 and 50, respectively, locked into two grooves70, rather than just one. As a result, there are four radially extendingcam side surfaces in engagement with four radially extending groove sidesurfaces, resisting axial movement, rather than just two. This featureincreases locking surface area and thus locking strength of the baton10.

Another benefit of the present invention arises from the fact that theoval-shaped insert portion 54 of the inner cam 50 is completelysurrounded by the body of the outer cam 30, in the oval-shaped opening42 of the inner cam 30. Thus, the two cams 30 and 50 are interlockedtogether at all times, and self-aligning. Sideways (axial) force on thecam assembly 20 will not separate the cams 30 and 50. This featuregreatly increases cam stability as compared to a cam assembly in whichthe two cams are only side by side.

When the parts of the baton 10 are thus locked, the center hole 60 inthe inner cam 50 is misaligned radially with the center hole 34 in theouter cam 30. To release (unlock) the middle tube 16 from the outer tube12, the release rod 24 is pushed in so that its tip engages the surfacedefining the center hole 34 in the outer cam 30 and the surface definingthe center hole 60 in the inner cam 50, forcing the two center openingsto align by drawing the cams radially inward. This radially inwardmovement of the two cams 30 and 50 draws the cam lands 42 and 56 out ofthe grooves 70 in the outer tube 12 (FIG. 7). As a result, the middletube 16 is no longer locked with the outer tube 12, and those two tubescan be collapsed relative to each other, as shown for example by thedifferent position of the parts that is illustrated in FIG. 8.

A similar action occurs with the second cam assembly 22, which canselectively lock or unlock the middle tube 16 with the inner tube 18.

FIG. 9 illustrates a portion of a baton 10 a that is a second embodimentof the invention. In the baton 10 a, the locking grooves are formed inthe tube end caps, rather than in the tubes themselves. Thisconstruction can be provided for ease of manufacture. In FIG. 9, partsof the baton 10 a that are the same as or similar to corresponding partsof the baton 10 (FIGS. 1-8) are given the same reference numerals withthe suffix “a” added for clarity.

Specifically, in the baton 10 a (FIG. 9), an end cap 100 is screwed ontothe distal end of the outer tube 12 a. The end cap 100 has two innercircumferential grooves 70 a. A cam assembly 20 a is carried on the endof the middle tube 16 a. When the middle tube 16 a is extended from theouter tube 12 a, the cam assembly 20 a becomes positioned radiallyinward of the end cap 100. The cams 30 a and 50 a can then move radiallyoutward into locking engagement with the grooves 70 a. The releasablelocking connection between the middle tube 16 a and the inner tube (notshown) would be similar.

Thus, the present invention can be seen to encompass at least twophysically different embodiments—with the locking grooves formeddirectly in the elongate tubes themselves, or with the locking groovesformed in a separate element (like the end cap 100) that is connectedwith the elongate tube. The term “tube section” as used hereinencompasses both of these variations and others that are apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art.

From the above description of the invention, those skilled in the artwill perceive improvements, changes and modifications. For example, thecam projections and grooves could have a shape that is different fromthe shape that is shown in the illustrated embodiment, to vary orincrease engagement surface. Such options could include a triangularshape or a hexagonal shape. Also, more than two cam projections can beprovided on each cam, with a correspondingly increased number ofgrooves. Such improvements, changes and modifications within the skillof the art are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

1. An extendable baton comprising: first and second telescoping tubesections, the first tube section having two inner circumferentialgrooves near one end, spaced apart from each other by a first distanceand having an inner circumferential rib between them; and a cam assemblycarried by the second tube section for selectively locking the first andsecond tube sections to each other; the cam assembly comprising tworadially movable cams each having two lands and a groove therebetween;the first and second cams being movable radially relative to each otherbetween a locked position in which the lands on the two cams are engagedin the grooves in the tube section, and an unlocked position in whichthe lands on the two cams are displaced radially inward from the grooveson the tube to enable relative axial movement of the first and secondtube sections.
 2. A baton as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second camhas a cam portion and an insert portion, the cam portion of the secondcam including the lands on the second cam, and the insert portion of thesecond cam slidably engaging in an opening of the first cam to providerelative sliding movement of the two cams in a radial direction betweenthe locked position and the unlocked position.
 3. A baton as set forthin claim 2 wherein the insert portion of the second cam has an ovalshaped external configuration that is received in an oval-shaped openingof the first cam thereby to interlock the first and second cams andblock relative axial or tipping movement.
 4. A baton as set forth inclaim 1 wherein the tube section includes an elongate cylindrical tubeand the locking grooves are formed on the tube.
 5. A baton as set forthin claim 1 wherein the tube section includes an elongate cylindricaltube with a separate cap and the locking grooves are formed on the cap.6. An extendable baton comprising: first and second telescoping tubesections, the first tube section having two inner circumferentialgrooves near one end, spaced apart from each other by a first distanceand having an inner circumferential rib between them; and a cam assemblycarried by the second tube section, the cam assembly for selectivelylocking the first and second tube sections to each other; the camassembly comprising two cams having alignment holes located therein; thefirst cam having a radially outer surface with two arcuate lands and agroove therebetween; the second cam having a radially outer surface withtwo arcuate lands and a groove therebetween; the locking lands on thesecond cam being spaced apart by the same distance as the locking landson the first cam, which is equal to the first distance between the tubesection grooves; the first and second cams being movable radiallyrelative to each other between: a locked position in which the lands onthe two cams are engaged in the grooves in the tube section, and the ribon the tube is in the grooves on the cams, blocking relative axialmovement of the first and second tube sections, and an unlocked positionin which the lands on the two cams are displaced radially inward fromthe grooves on the tube to enable relative axial movement of the firstand second tube sections.
 7. A baton as set forth in claim 6 wherein thesecond cam has a cam portion and an insert portion, the cam portion ofthe second cam including the lands on the second cam, and the insertportion of the second cam slidably engaging in an opening of the firstcam to provide relative sliding movement of the two cams in a radialdirection between the locked position and the unlocked position.
 8. Abaton as set forth in claim 7 wherein the insert portion of the secondcam has an oval shaped external configuration that is received in anoval-shaped opening of the first cam thereby to interlock the first andsecond cams and block relative axial or tipping movement.
 9. A baton asset forth in claim 6 wherein the tube section includes an elongatecylindrical tube and the locking grooves are formed on the tube.
 10. Abaton as set forth in claim 6 wherein the tube section includes anelongate cylindrical tube with a separate cap and the locking groovesare formed on the cap.